You Just Need to Show Up

20th Sunday after Pentecost
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say thank you for your flexibility with worshipping in the gym on Sunday. We are so fortunate to have this space and to utilize it from time to time for all-church worship when necessary. We will be back in the Sanctuary this coming Sunday.. I think you will love the fresh, new look in the hallways and Sanctuary. No matter where you are, you — the people of God called Matthews United Methodist (MUMC) — worship heartily and full-spirited. If you missed being with us on Sunday, you can click here to participate.

I know you loved seeing our new members who joined this past Sunday. I invite you to give thanks for each of these new households to us as you read them over:

Chad and Natalie Broadway and their children; Harper (10) and Henry (6)
KT Harcourt-Medina and her children Liam and Sawyer
Suzanne Harmon
Michelle and TK Khounthikoumane and their children Amelia (7), Annabelle (5) and Christian (almost 3)
Sandy McNiel Reggie and Theresa Mendes
Bob Phillips
Joanie Saalfrank
Sarah Sheffield
Stanna and David (Mick) Treadwell
Allison and Daniel Turner with their children Lucy (1st gr), Molly (K) and Harrison (2 yrs.)

That’s eleven new households to our community of faith!

I’ve been reading Lynne Twist’s, The Soul of Money. She says there are at least three myths we unconsciously believe about money in our culture by carrying the burden of believing: 1) There isn’t enough. 2) More is better. 3) That’s just the way it is.

We see this play out in our society through competing, measuring, hoarding, and striving for more and more. This way of thinking and living consumes a huge amount of our energy and often we feel incapable of changing this stifling way of living with money. As people of faith, we are called to a more life-giving relationship with our resources – one that blesses us in order to bless others.

“When you let go of trying to get more of what you don’t really need,
it frees up oceans of energy to make a difference with what you have.
When you make a difference with what you have, it expands.”
Lynne Twist

It is hard to challenge unconscious assumptions, but it is so freeing to live with gratitude for what we have instead of a constant desire for more and more.

Friends, we will be exploring these myths further during the next few weeks of worship. In doing so we will grow in our discipleship and become more and more intentional with our resources. We hope that our giving can become a source of life for us and others as we give and spend our money based upon our values and faith. As you consider what your Estimate-of-Giving Pledge will be for 2024, I invite you to give prayerful consideration to whether or not your gift has grown in recent years. If possible, growing your gift will help our ministry expand and propel our church’s mission forward into wider reaching avenues. I look forward to seeing all of you on Sunday, November 12 in our one worship service that day at 10:30 am and then BBQ and Bluegrass. Click here to submit your pledge if you will be unable to be present on that great day.

Wednesday Devotional

My title for this week’s video devotional is titled, You Need to Show Up.

Update on General Giving

Together, our giving makes the transforming work of the church possible. As we head towards the end of the fiscal year, it is important to share this update on General Giving and ask that you continue to prioritize ministry in all that you do. Matthews UMC makes God’s love real right here in our community in impactful ways. Please consider helping to close the gap between now and December 31 so that we can continue to fulfill our mission to Reach, Teach, Praise & Serve.

Let’s finish this year strong together!

Annual Laity Service Award Recipients

Each year Matthews United Methodist honors several amazing individuals who are emblematic of the heart and soul of Jesus. This year we celebrate several in our midst: Susan Chambers, Fred & Carol Goolsby, Lena Martin and María de Jesús Meneses. These are amazing people who lead us in servant leadership. We will honor them in worship this Sunday and then again on Sunday, November 5 at the University City United Methodist Church along with many others across our Metro District of The United Methodist Church. You can read more about these amazing people by clicking here.

Upcoming Events

• Potato Drop – Saturday, October 21, 9:00-12:00. Sign up to volunteer! Details.
• All-Church Gathering – Monday, October 23, 7:00-8:00 pm. Details.
• 5th Sunday Fellowship with Mt Moriah, Matthews Presbyterian, and MUMC – Sunday, October 29, 12:15 at Mt Moriah. Make reservations here by Oct 24.
• Trunk or Treat – Sunday, October 29, 6-7:30 pm. This event is for everyone! Candy donations needed! Details.
• Commitment Sunday: Combined 10:30 Worship, followed by BBQ Lunch & Bluegrass – Sunday, November 12. Details 

This Sunday in Worship

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 8:15 am (Traditional; in person only), 9:30 am (Contemporary; in person or online here), 11:00 am (Traditional; in person or online here) or 12:30 (Spanish; in person or on demand here).

In our Spanish-speaking CCH (Centro Cristiano Hosanna) community, Pastor Roldan continues the worship series on Biblical Stewardship, preaching from Ecclesiastes 3:1. His sermon is titled, A Treasure That We Cannot Neglect.

We continue our fall worship series, Pathways to Discipleship this Sunday. We will dig deep into our next pathway, the Pathway of Worship. You can prepare by reading Psalm 100.

I hope you’ll invite someone to come along with you this Sunday and see our fresh new look in the Sanctuary and hallways of our main building. Who knows…MUMC may just be what they need to experience the love of God.

And now, as always, during these strange, uncertain, and hopeful days, remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

In the Community. For the Community.
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know a Memorial Service was conducted at the Matthews Glen Chapel for Pat Lang on Saturday, October 14? Pastor Chuck participated.

Did you know that our Hope for Minds & Hearts Mental Health Ministry is actively making a positive impact in our broader community? They’ve recently donated $2000 to both Brave Step and Turning Point, offering vital financial support for mental health counseling and resources to individuals who have faced domestic and/or sexual abuse. This heartfelt initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to delivering mental health assistance and support to those in need.

Did you know that MUMC hosted the Tree Give-Away for the Town of Matthews on Saturday? The Micah Connection team’s Creation Care Ministry helped people select trees and load vehicles. The rain did NOT dampen spirits, we celebrated the beauty of God’s creation. Over 200 trees were given to Matthews residents.

Did you know that during Troop 39’s barbecue fundraiser, four more boys completed the final steps to become Eagle Scouts? On this past Monday, the troop recognized and congratulated Keshava Parthasarathy, Joey Copolla, Tully Pope, and Will McKean on this great accomplishment.